Ink cartridge, especially for an ink jet printer

Abstract

An ink cartridge ( 10 ) having an ink reservoir which delimits in a first chamber ( 17 ) a free-ink volume ( 16 ) and in a second chamber ( 18 ) a capillary volume ( 15 ), there being an ink outlet ( 21 ) associated with the latter, and wherein for use of the cartridge both chambers ( 17, 18 ) are connectible to the external environment by way of air-admission openings ( 23, 24 ) which prior to use are closed by a removable or peelable film or so-called remove film ( 25 ). The air-admission openings ( 23, 24 ) are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that when the remove film ( 25 ) is peeled off it is always the chamber ( 18 ) delimiting the capillary volume ( 15 ) to which air is admitted first.

1 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An ink cartridge configured for use with an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge comprising:
 an ink reservoir which delimits in a first chamber ( 17 ) a free-ink volume ( 16 ) and in a second chamber ( 18 ) a capillary volume ( 15 ); and   an ink outlet ( 21 ) associated with the capillary volume,   wherein for use of the cartridge both the first and the second chambers ( 17 ,  18 ) are connectible to an external environment by way of air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) which prior to use are closed by a remove film ( 25 ), and   wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that when the remove film ( 25 ) is peeled off the air-admission openings it is always the second chamber ( 18 ) delimiting the capillary volume ( 15 ) to which air is admitted first.   
     
     
         7 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 6 , wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) are constructed and arranged in a preferred peel-off direction in such a way that an air-admission opening associated with the free-ink volume ( 16 ) is arranged between two air-admission openings associated with the capillary volume ( 15 ). 
     
     
         8 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 6 , wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) are arranged one inside the other, forming an inner air-admission opening ( 23 ) associated with the free-ink volume ( 16 ) and an outer air-admission opening ( 24 ) which surrounds the inner air-admission opening ( 23 ) in the shape of a ring and is associated with the capillary volume ( 15 ). 
     
     
         9 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) are arranged one inside the other, forming an inner air-admission opening ( 23 ) associated with the free-ink volume ( 16 ) and an outer air-admission opening ( 24 ) which surrounds the inner air-admission opening ( 23 ) in the shape of a ring and is associated with the capillary volume ( 15 ). 
     
     
         10 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 6 , wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) and the ink outlet ( 21 ) are both closable by the remove film ( 25 ). 
     
     
         11 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) and the ink outlet ( 21 ) are both closable by the remove film ( 25 ). 
     
     
         12 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 8 , wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) and the ink outlet ( 21 ) are both closable by the remove film ( 25 ). 
     
     
         13 . The ink cartridge according to  claims 6 , further comprising
 four side walls ( 11 ,  12 );   a base wall ( 14 ); and   a top wall ( 13 ),   wherein the ink outlet ( 21 ) is arranged in one of the base wall ( 14 ) and close to the base wall in one of the side walls,   wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) are arranged in the top wall ( 13 ), and   wherein the air admission openings are as short a distance away as possible from the ink outlet ( 21 ).   
     
     
         14 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 7 , further comprising
 four side walls ( 11 ,  12 );   a base wall ( 14 ); and   a top wall ( 13 ),   wherein the ink outlet ( 21 ) is arranged in one of the base wall ( 14 ) and close to the base wall in one of the side walls,   wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) are arranged in the top wall ( 13 ), and   wherein the air admission openings are as short a distance away as possible from the ink outlet ( 21 ).   
     
     
         15 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 8 , further comprising
 four side walls ( 11 ,  12 );   a base wall ( 14 ); and   a top wall ( 13 ),   wherein the ink outlet ( 21 ) is arranged in one of the base wall ( 14 ) and close to the base wall in one of the side walls,   wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) are arranged in the top wall ( 13 ), and   wherein the air admission openings are as short a distance away as possible from the ink outlet ( 21 ).   
     
     
         16 . The ink cartridge according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 four side walls ( 11 ,  12 );   a base wall ( 14 ); and   a top wall ( 13 ),   wherein the ink outlet ( 21 ) is arranged in one of the base wall ( 14 ) and close to the base wall in one of the side walls,   wherein the air-admission openings ( 23 ,  24 ) are arranged in the top wall ( 13 ), and   wherein the air admission openings are as short a distance away as possible from the ink outlet ( 21 ).